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Twin wins by Harris guide Lyons to WSC Silver championship
Hinsdale Central's Mike O'choa competes in the pole vault during a boys track meet on Friday, March 15, 2013, at Proviso West High School in Hillside. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 25, 2013 12:17PM
MAYWOOD — All Matt Harris cared about was getting Lyons the team title at the West Suburban Silver indoor track and field meet hosted by Proviso West on Friday.
The senior was the only individual double-winner, bringing home firsts in the long jump (23 feet, 8.5 inches) and 55 low hurdles (7.34 seconds) and powering the Lions (148 points) to first place over York (139).
“It was all about scoring points for the team,” said Harris, who was also third in the 55 dash. “I don’t really care about individual accomplishments. I just want to help the team.”
While the hurdles race was close, with Harris just beating out teammate Lino Mogorovic by one-hundredth of a second, the long jump was a blowout.
Harris, who was second at the outdoor state meet last spring, beat out his nearest competitor by more than two feet.
“I’m not really worried about competition in the long jump; I don’t even watch anyone else jump,” Harris said. “I just try to focus on myself. It’s all mental.”
Also picking up wins for Lyons were Mogorovic in the 55 high hurdles (7.87); Alex Lima in the 600 (1:24.49); Matt Grider in the 200 (23.11); and Jimmy Mitchell in shot put (54-5.5). The Lions relays also posted victories in the 3,200 (8:07.91), the 800 (1:32.95) and the 1,600 (3:27.69).
Oak Park-River Forest was third with 66.5 points.
The Huskies’ Zach Booth looked like he would have a chance to pull off a double after he won the 55 dash in 6.57.
But while getting ready for the finals of the 200, Booth felt tingling in his legs and was held out as a precaution.
“I was just dehydrated and my body was aching,” said Booth, who beat out teammate Tariq Taylor in the 55. “My confidence was up in the 55 and at the end of the day I won. I had a good reaction at the start, my transition felt good and I just held on the rest of the way.”
OPRF’s other win came from Samora Nesbitt in the triple jump (43-7).
Other winners were: York’s Scott Milling (3,200, 9:23.91), Alex Bashqawi (800, 1:57.94), Reid Smith (high jump, 6-2) and Curt Thieme (pole vault, 13-6); Glenbard West’s Devonte Dillon (400, 52.5); and Downers Grove North’s Zach Smith (1,600, 4:25.6).
Read more about the Lyons and OPRF boys track teams in Thursday’s editions of your local Pioneer Press newspaper.
